Customer Reviews (19 Total)
English Crown or Balkan achievement?
June 20, 2018
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
This is as good a review as any to visit the English/Balkan debate. I'm not saying I'm right, but here's how I use the terms: both English and Balkan blends have VA, Latakia and orientals (I know Latakia is an oriental too, stay with me here...). To ... Read More
me it's a matter of prominence within a blend, not the origin of the leaf. If it is Latakia heavy, a “Lat-bomb”, or otherwise Latakia forward I consider it English whether other orientals are present or not. Why the term “English”? I have no clue. I've heard in England they refer to these blends more correctly as “Latakia mixtures” (Brilliant!). Or, if the predominant feature are other orientals, regardless of a Latakia presence, then I think of it as a Balkan. I'm stubborn, but my understanding was influenced by the early 90s. Back then the term “Balkan” was commonly misused to mean any Lat-blend the way “English” is used today. When the only info you have is from a local B&M and they're wrong about something, you tend to be wrong too until someone sets you straight (not that the web has helped the debate). Nowadays, in casual conversation, I'm fine with these terms being used interchangeably since they both convey “non-aromatic”. Can they include other tobaccos? Sure, as long as the core tobaccos are there. Crown Achievement has Perique and it takes nothing away from the blend but adds a subtle spice upping the ante. I've never had it without Perique so I can't compare, but included this is a stellar blend. Crown Achievement is so well balanced that by my own definition, I can't tell which component is foremost and thus if it is English or Balkan. It is definitely a non-aromatic mixture. It has depth and complexity many never reach. It cooperates mechanically. Is consistent. But above all, it is a strong creamy Latakia/oriental blend of some character. In the end, it doesn't matter what you call it. I like to call it “Crown Achievement”. Aptly named, it is a pinnacle of rich & tasty tobaccos sure to please Latakia fans. Enjoy.
PS: Don't get me started on how wrong the term “oriental” is. Read Less
Outstanding
April 29, 2018
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
Flavorful, balanced, and smooth burning. It was my favorite in the 70s and continues to be today.
Best I've ever tried
May 17, 2018
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
This is hands down my favorite pipe tobacco
A Truly Great Blend
June 19, 2015
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
A different Jerry L. with a different opinion. I was mesmerized by the whole story of this reintroduction of Lane Crown Achievement when it first came out... from Leonard Wortzel's super-sleuth work to the ferreting out of recipes, original machines,... Read More
ingredients, etc. My first order was for two tins which quickly met their timely and immensely enjoyed ends. My next order was for 4 tins, and my next, half a pound in bulk. I find this a superior and refreshing full-on-English blend in all the best senses of the words! Right now, as I'm typing these thoughts, I am enjoying a bowl of Dunhill NIghtcap, also a favorite. Personally, Crown Achievement is my favorite of the genre by a nose. For some mysterious reason, in Crown Achievement, the layers of ingredients and the complexities of aromas evolve through a bowl a bit more orderly, discretely, and definably than Nightcap. And although it's probably my imagination, there is a new world freshness and sparkle to Crown Achievement that I don't experience as clearly in other venerably grand lords of the English domain. When my son asked me to recommend an all-around "quintessential English", my thoughts settled down on the magic formula of Crown Achievement... for the money and for the fun, it is my personal winner that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone asking the same question. Read Less
Excellent strong English
March 30, 2014
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
This tobacco is very good after giving it some age. Open the tin and let it sit for a couple of weeks. You will be rewarded with a very good stronger english blend with a nice plummy taste.
Funky Finish & Aftertaste
June 12, 2019
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
I tried this once a few years ago in bulk. Great stuff. Just tried it for the 2nd time in the tin.. good about 3/4 the way down. Left a taste in my mouth that I consider as less than pleasing. Almost chemically. A disappointment, indeed. A Balkan tha... Read More
t will surely not be in my rotation. Read Less
My go-to english
March 12, 2019
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
My go-to english tobacco. Really like it a lot
Very dry, twiggy
February 06, 2019
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
I bought 2 tins and have only opened one tin at this point. The tin was sealed and I was very surprised by how dry it was and even more surprised by the amount of stems. They weren't large but plentiful. Didn't pack well and burnt quickly. Taste was ... Read More
fair but not good enough for me to buy again. I'll probably make a gift of the other tin rather than let it take up space. I may have just gotten a bad tin. Read Less
Very nice
October 10, 2017
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
This is a great blend, smoked well and had good taste. I'll definitely buy more.
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
I am no conoisseur of pipe tobacco--more or less a newcomer, but I like this blend. I like Three Nuns; similarly this tobacco burns well with no bite and has excellent flavor.
Balanced English
April 14, 2017
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
About time Lane got something right. This stuff is pretty darn good and is fast becoming my go to English blend.
Excellent
October 05, 2016
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
My recent order included a couple tins of Crown Achievement. Very nice tin quality, unusual clear stiff plastic insert to hold the tobacco firm and retain moisture. Probably the best packaging I have seen.
The tobacco comes at just the right dampnes... Read More
s for immediate smoking. I wandered off into the garden and loaded up my Grabow Golden Duke. Tobacco took a light straight away and produced very nice clouds of pungent flavorsome smoke. For my first couple of bowls I wondered if this was going to have just a little too much Perique, but as I became accustomed to Crown Achievement I realised that the Perique element is what makes it rather special. It has a background sweetness, a hint of something Oriental, then the Perique on top. The Perique seems to be quite soft - there's a spiciness there which becomes very attractive after repeated smokings, but it doesn't have the big peppery kick that I've experienced in some Perique mixtures.
Having opened the first tin yesterday, I'm rather surprised to find the contents dwindling rather rapidly! Already had another couple of smokes of it this morning, and it really is growing on me. The smoking taste and aftertaste are really rather infectious.
Something in this reminds me of Dunhill's Aperitif, but I think Crown Achievement is better, more spicey but soft as well. All rather intriguing! In fact I'm going to be rather dramatic and say that this Crown Achievement beats all the Dunhills I've smoked - and that really is rather a big compliment.
So: only a couple of days into my first tin, but I think this one is a real winner, and I'm already planning to buy lots of tins for my cupboard. Well done Lane! Read Less
Good English
August 12, 2016
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
Lane has improved much from the 70's. The CA is a good English mixture. Taste is even and it smokes smoother starting about half way through the smoke. It burns evenly all the way to the bottom. It is up there with other good English mixtures inc... Read More
luding the original John Cotton's and Balkan Sobranies. Read Less
A Stout English
February 09, 2016
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
I don't know if it was a last batch from the bulk crate but for me it was a stout English with some complex notes of Orientals and something else. Yet, I enjoyed it. Comparable to Dunhill's My Mixture 965 without the pungent taste.
Nice mixture
January 05, 2016
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
Great quality out of the tin and smokes terrific. Taste is on the mellow side of the latakia blends of similar construction. Cant go wrong with this blend, no complaints and will buy again.
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
suberb, one of my favourites. Spicy, yet mellow, full of satisfying flavour. I like everything about this suberb blend. Highly recommended.
Not for me.
July 24, 2014
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
Maybe I just got a bad tin, but it had no discernible tin note, was extremely dry, and tasted harsh with an acrid aftertaste. I typically like Lane blends, but this was just bad.
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
I certainly dont think Lane is kidding when they say they chose the finest tobaccos because the ones in this mixture really did taste like premium choices. I would also agree with Doug R.'s assessment that its improved with a little age. My subsequ... Read More
ent smokes after having the tin sit for weeks or months after opening only improved my experience with it. While I wouldnt say the flavor changed it meerly seemed to increase its positive attributes and decrease the negative ones.
I thought its unique flavor was very consistent and didnt change hardly at all throughout an entire bowl and boy did it smoke well burning down all the way to nothing. If you think you'll like whats in the blend then definitly give it a try and for me its something to work into the rotation when I am in the mood or to change stuff up. While I wouldnt call it the strongest or a super heavy smoke its definitly not light and past medium as to its strength. Nothing to be afraid of and as I said the best way I can sum it up is to testify that it did seem like a bargain for how good the tobacco was compared to the price of the tin. Beautifully presented in appearance too. The room note I did not think was pleasant and my wife agreed so I would have to disagree with that notion.
While my personal pallet really likes this one and thinks its a very unique blend that taste unlike anything else I have tried its also one I am just not in the mood for often. There is no way I would keep a lot of it on hand to age or go through tin after tin like I do my favorites but I would like to always have at least a tin or two and if I found out it was going away I may get half a dozen and that would last me the better part of a decade for as little as I crave it. Read Less
Pretty good blend
April 01, 2014
Product: Lane Limited Crown Achievement 1.75oz
A smoky BBQ smell from opening, nice smooth round notes with Orientals coming forward but not as much as in Bosphorus cruise, and with the latakia playing back a bit not too much but i can detect it here and there. Nothing like 3 oaks but a good smo... Read More
ke.I don't think i'll buy more but its only becuase i have a few other favorites with a little more up front orientals. Read Less
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